Is it time for a NEW APPROACH? Spirituality TORAH PORTION Biblical Love Story Parshat Chayei Sarah: Genesis 23:1- 25:18; I Kings 1:1-31. Consider Eton ApproachTm ETON AEADEMY Nationally awarded school for smart kids, grades 1-12, with learning challenges such as dyslexia and ADHD. Our Eton Approach blends a personal learning system for each student with highly trained teachers and small class size. Tutor Pros Register online for one-on-one tutoring by experienced Eton teachers for students in grades 1-12 in any school. Students benefit from help to manage homework, keep pace with school and improve skills in a specific subject. Open House College Fair Visit Eton 9-11 am, Tuesday, Nov. 9th Join us from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 17th. Free event, open to the public includes representatives from more than 25 colleges with resources for students with learning challenges. to talk to teachers, parents and see Eton in action www.etonacademy.org 248.642.1150 smart. self-confident. nurtured. self-advocating. respected. accepted. Eton DESIGNS IN DECORATOR WOOD & LAMINATES, LTD. D o you remember the moment you first fell in love? What was it like? Can you still picture that moment today? What time of day was it? Who else was there? Was the moment recorded in some way? If you close your eyes, can you transport yourself back to that moment in time? This week, we read the Torah por- tion of Chayei Sarah, which relates to us the death and burial of Sarah at the beginning and the death and burial of Abraham at the end. In between these two deaths, and comprising the largest section of the parshah, is the story of the finding of a wife for Isaac. Abraham, the Torah tells us, is now "old, advanced in years" and decides that the time is correct to find a suitable wife for his son and spiritual heir, Isaac. Yet Abraham is concerned about selecting a woman from the local population and under no circumstances is Isaac to go back to Abraham's place of birth. Instead, Abraham sends his most trusted servant, probably Eliezer, to Abraham's birthplace to find an appropriate wife for Isaac. The servant makes the journey and almost immediately encounters Rebekah, a relative of Abraham's through his brother Nahor. Right away, Eliezer recognizes the kindness and beauty of Rebekah and decides to meet her family. After Abraham's servant relates at length his story to Laban (Rebekah's brother) and Bethuel (her father) they agree to let Rebekah marry Isaac. The servant and Rebekah then set out on their journey back to Canaan. Here, the Torah tells us of the first recorded moment in biblical history when a person is struck by love. According to the Jewish Publication Society's translation of the Torah, we read, "Isaac had just come back from the vicinity of Beer- lahai-roi, for he was settled in the region of the Negev. And Isaac went out walking (or, perhaps, praying) in the field toward evening and, look- ing up, he saw camels approaching. Raising her eyes, Rebekah saw Isaac" (Genesis 24:62-64). The moment has now been framed for us: Isaac is walking (or praying) out in the field toward late afternoon. Rebekah is just completing her long journey. The sun is slowly lowering in the sky; perhaps the wind is blow- ing a gentle warm breeze across the picturesque Negev region. The young man and young woman catch sight of each other. At this point, we need to translate the text more literally. The Hebrew says, "va'tipol me'al ha'gamal," after seeing Isaac, Rebekah literally "falls from off of the camel!' She then turns to the servant and asks, "mi ha'ish ha'la'zeh?" or literally "who is that guy!?" In that moment, we can imagine her heart aflutter as she gazes at Isaac; Rebekah literally "falls" for Isaac from the moment that she sees him. And so begins the great love story of Isaac and Rebekah. ❑ Robert Gamer is rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom in Oak Park. Conversations Lois Haron Allied Member ASID 248.851.6989 Log on to JNonline.us giveaways • forums • calendars VISIT JNonline.us SO October 28 • 2010 JN •The servant chosen by Abraham to find a bride for Isaac is given one of the most important tasks in the Bible, yet his name is omitted. Why? •The Torah tells us that Isaac and Ishmael come together to bury their father, Abraham. How is it that the brothers are able to come together at that point? What do you think the conversation was like given that Abraham expelled Ishmael and was willing to sacrifice Isaac? • Despite the many trials Abraham had to endure in his life, he dies "at a good ripe age, old and contented." How do you think Abraham was able to do this?